Buying a House with An Old Furnace: 4 Steps You Need to Ta

After going on multiple house showings, you have finally found your dream home. It is an older house located in a well-established neighborhood that has great charm and a solid foundation. However, despite everything, the house also features older appliances, including an old furnace which you need to examine carefully.

In general, this is the reality for many people who are buying a house in colder regions like Canada, where having a highly efficient heating system is essential for achieving maximum home comfort. A furnace is a great type of heating unit that can warm up a space instantly while improving indoor air quality and reducing energy bills.

source : thespruce.com

So, before closing the deal on your new house, it is imperative that you take a few steps to ensure the currently installed furnace is working properly. To get you started, here are four things you need to do when purchasing a home with an old furnace.

Find out how old the furnace is

source : buildtech.ie

Probably the most important question you need to ask the owner of the property is how old the furnace is. In general, furnaces have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years and that is only if they are maintained properly throughout their lifetime.

To check whether the furnace in the house is working properly, there are some warning signs you should look out for. These include abnormal furnace smells when the unit is turned on, difficulty starting the unit, inadequate heat, poor air quality, and weird noises.

If you notice any of these signs, then you might need to consult with an expert to find out whether you need to repair or replace the system. For example, if you live in Winnipeg, which is one of the coldest Canadian cities in winter, make sure you look for the best Winnipeg furnace replacement services near you to hire professionals to repair or install a new heating unit for a fair price.

Perform a thorough furnace inspection

source : bobvila.com

In addition to watching out for the warning signs, you can go a step further and perform a thorough furnace inspection. If you know your way around heating systems, you can do the assessment yourself or hire a fully-licensed technician to do it for you.

In any case, a detailed furnace inspection includes:

Testing safety and operating controls;
Inspecting for combustion leaks;
Adjusting and cleaning the thermostat;
Checking the heat exchanger and burner;
Inspecting the blower motor;
Replacing oil filters.

The importance of a detailed furnace inspection cannot be overlooked because it will ensure that your system is operating properly without any technical issues.

Ask about maintenance and warranties

source : oldhouseonline.com

Asking the owner of the house about the maintenance of the furnace is another important step you need to take before closing the deal. As it was already mentioned, a regularly maintained furnace will last for a long period of time, reducing the likelihood of potential problems which may be costly to repair.

So, make sure you ask the seller if they have any maintenance and service records of the furnace which can serve as proof that the unit has been properly maintained in the past.

Also, don’t forget to check if the unit has any active warranties or service plans. If they do, see whether you can have them transferred to you so you can use them for a furnace replacement or a new installation, if it comes to that.

Discuss monthly costs and energy efficiency

One of the biggest reasons why homeowners choose furnaces as their primary source of heat is because they are energy efficient. The key to this is the second heat exchanger which captures more energy from the exhaust gasses before releasing them outside.

Some high-efficiency furnaces also feature a sealed combustion chamber which further helps reduce possible heat loss. Moreover, if they have multi-stage burners and variable speed blowers that help reduce energy waste as well as a smart thermostat, you will be looking at much lower heating bills.

So make sure you get all of this information about the currently installed furnace so you can have an idea of how efficient the unit is and what your average monthly costs would be.

source : Forbes

Final thoughts

When you are buying a new house that features an older furnace, performing a thorough assessment of the heating system is essential before closing the deal. You need a fully functioning unit with high efficiency so you can protect yourself from potential liability in the future.

For more information, follow our steps and ensure you are purchasing a house with a good-quality furnace.